Tyler Brandenburger on his dirt bike during a competition. The 20-year-old broke his right leg when he crashed during a competition Sunday, and it subsequently had to be amputed above the knee.
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Tyler Brandenburger on his dirt bike during a competition. The 20-year-old broke his right leg when he crashed during a competition Sunday, and it subsequently had to be amputed above the knee.
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It has not been my favorite sport that he’s done through the years. But he loved it. When it’s something that’s in their blood like that, you’re not going to stop them.

Kelly Brandenburger, mother of Tyler Brandenburger

At Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, doctors said the leg had developed compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome happens when excessive pressure builds inside part of the body. It results from bleeding or swelling after an injury, affecting the flow of blood to tissue.

Kelly Brandenburger said competitive dirt-bike racing has been a passion for her son.

“It has not been my favorite sport that he’s done through the years,” she said. “But he loved it. When it’s something that’s in their blood like that, you’re not going to stop them.”

She said her son already has talked about getting back on a dirt bike, telling friends that he still has a left leg, so he can still operate the gear shifter on a motorcycle.

Kelly Brandenburger said Tyler will be in the hospital for 4-5 days, then sent to inpatient rehabilitation. He eventually will be fitted with a prosthetic.

She said her son is “bummed” but “seems to be doing pretty good” with his recovery.

“It’s kind of shocking when you first look at it, but it is what it is,” she said.

Kelly Brandenburger said the episode serves as a reminder that an injury such as a broken bone, which might not seem life-threatening, “can turn into something a lot worse.” She said she had never heard of compartment syndrome, and she doubts that many other parents have heard of it, either.

Tyler attends classes at Southwestern Illinois College and works at an automotive parts store in Freeburg. A GoFundMe account has been established to help with his medical expenses.